Over 1000 set to challenge poverty at Oxfam Trailwalker this

People of all ages and
fitness levels from across the country will be up bright and
early this Saturday morning, gearing up to converge on
stunning trails in Taupō to challenge themselves and
challenge poverty at Oxfam Trailwalker 2014. The event
begins at 6am on Saturday morning and concludes around 7pm
on Sunday evening.

Teams of four will walk – or run, if
they’re keen – a full 100 kilometres in less than 36
hours, all to help Oxfam raise vital funds to support its
work with communities living in poverty in the developing
world.

After training for months, people come from over
100 towns and cities across New Zealand and as far as the
UK, Germany, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Brunei, the
US and Australia.

The trail takes walkers through some of
New Zealand's most spectacular scenery, including Huka
Falls, native bush and stunning views across Lake
Taupō.

But the event’s draw comes from more than just
picturesque scenery. Oxfam Trailwalker is about ordinary
people doing extraordinary things.

268 teams have
confirmed their participation in this year’s event. In
taking on Oxfam Trailwalker each team commits to raising a
minimum of $2000 for Oxfam’s work tackling poverty in the
developing world. In 2013, Family Guys were the top
fundraising team, raising $17,475.90.

Oxfam New
Zealand’s new Executive Director, Rachael Le Mesurier
explains: “Oxfam Trailwalker is an incredible personal
challenge but also an extremely important fundraiser for
Oxfam. Each team’s fundraising helps Oxfam make a
difference for communities throughout the
Pacific.”

“It’s inspiring how many Kiwis have pushed
their limits at Oxfam Trailwalker. We are hugely grateful
for the commitment and effort shown by everyone involved
from the participants and support crew to volunteers and
local Taupō community”, says Le Mesurier.

Total
fundraising for 2013 was $990,113 and Oxfam hopes to raise
over a million dollars in 2014. The event has a huge impact
on the lives of people in the developing world –
communities are able to build clean water supplies, families
can grow more food, women are protected from violence and
children are given the chance at an education.In 2013,
Wellington team Cool Runnings crossed the finish line first
- in a bob-sled to pay homage to the film Cool Runnings –
in just 12 hours, 41 minutes. The team also bet the
fundraising target turning over $3240 to Oxfam. They are
signed up again for 2014 and are hoping to get themselves
and their bobsled over the line in under 12 hours!

Oxfam
Trailwalker Event Manager, Zeb Stone, is inspired by the way
Kiwis have taken on the Oxfam Trailwalker challenge and are
positively impacting the lives of those in extreme
poverty.

“Oxfam Trailwalker is unique for the team
aspect – this is no relay where you are out there on your
own. Teams demonstrate the power of what we can collectively
achieve when we work together. By supporting each other, and
reaching out to friends, families and colleagues to support
them, the event truly demonstrates the power of people
against poverty”, says Stone.

Oxfam
Trailwalker is held over April 5-6, 2014 at scenic Lake
Taupō, teams of 4 will walk 100km together in under 36
hours to help save and improve lives. Oxfam Trailwalker is
not a relay, your team of four starts and finishes together.
You can contribute to this incredible challenge by
supporting and donating to your favourite team at
http://www.oxfamtrailwalker.org.nz/

/Ends

• The
first teams will begin at 6am on Saturday April 5, with the
second wave leaving at 7am.• • The fastest team
of four to finish Oxfam Trailwalker in New Zealand completed
the 100 kilometres in just 11 hours, 13 minutes. This was
Pukekohe team Plucky Sods in 2011.

In addition to
teams that have travelled from the UK, Germany, Japan,
Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Brunei, the US and Australia to
take on the challenge, Oxfam Trailwalker 2014 participants
come from the following New Zealand towns or
cities:

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